Dwayne Johnson brought his family to the Los Angeles premiere of Disney’s live-action Moana on Tuesday.
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The actor attended the event with his wife, Lauren Hashian, and their kids, Jasmine, 10, and Tiana, 8, his mother, Ata Johnson, eldest daughter Simone Johnson, 24, ex-wife Dany Garcia and Garcia’s husband, Dave Rienzi.
Several members of Johnson’s family embraced the island-inspired theme for the evening. Jasmine and Tiana wore coordinating blue dresses adorned with oversized red hibiscus flowers and matching floral hair accessories. Simone, however, opted for a black midi dress with a thigh-high slit and black open-toe heels.
Johnson returns as Maui, the shape-shifting demigod he first voiced in Disney’s 2016 animated film. He stars opposite newcomer Catherine Laga’aia, who takes on the role of Moana.
The live-action remake follows Moana after she answers the Ocean’s call and leaves her home on Motunui. Maui joins her on a voyage to help protect her island from a new threat. The film features music by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa’i and Mark Mancina, with Hamilton director Thomas Kail behind the camera.
Ahead of the film’s July 10 release, Johnson’s portrayal of Maui has generated plenty of conversation online. Much of the discussion has centered on the character’s long, curly hair, with some viewers surprised to see the actor sporting a dramatically different look.
Johnson addressed the reaction during a recent interview with Variety, explaining that Maui’s signature hair was an important part of staying true to the animated character.
“The wig was very crucial and important because, in holding onto the integrity of the character from the animated version, Maui was very proud of his hair. And he had beautiful hair, beautiful demigod hair,” Johnson said.
He added that the filmmakers considered using digital effects before deciding a wig was the better choice.
“There were a handful of iterations that we were looking to apply very early. What is the most cost-effective? What’s the most time-effective? But ultimately, we have to go back to the main thing, which is, what’s the best thing for the film and the audience’s experience?” he added.
Moana arrives in theaters nationwide on July 10.
